AriZona Beverage Co. has launched RESCUE Water, a new line of enhanced waters filled with a proprietary blend of Twinlab vitamins and antioxidants. It comes in four flavors, each of which corresponds to a different function. Berry Blend helps the body to relax; Lemon-Lime assists in supplying energy; Orange Citrus supports liver function so the

HBI International offers Juicy Bluntarillo Quad Wrapped Cigars, which are smaller than a blunt, but bigger than a cigarillo. The Bluntarillos have four wraps because the flavor of a cigar is mostly held in its wrapper. By using four, this cigar has four times the flavor. Plus some of the wraps can be peeled off

Known for its all-natural pork sausage, Jones Dairy Farm has introduced all-natural golden brown turkey sausage links to the company’s full line of all-natural precooked sausage offerings. Made from an all-natural recipe that never includes mechanically separated turkey meat, Jones turkey sausage contains no MSG, nitrites or nitrates and has zero grams

The Chiquita To Go program offers retailers the opportunity to sell quality bananas and earn higher margins. With Chiquita’s “stay fresh” technology, bananas stay fresh up to seven days longer, significantly reducing waste. Using the Chiquita To Go merchandiser, retailers can place a display of 10 bananas on the counter for increased impulse purchases, attracting

The first gas island vending solution now is available at selected WilcoHess locations in North Carolina. WilcoHess LLC, an operator of travel plazas and convenience stores in the Southeastern U.S., has collaborated with Allied Electronics, a provider of service station automation systems, The Pinnacle Corp., an automation technology and software supplier, and Vendgogh LLC, a

General Mills has introduced Chex Mix Muddy Buddies to convenience store retailers. Inspired by the popular homemade recipe, Chex Mix Muddy Buddies is a combination of chocolate and peanut butter Corn Chex cereal pieces tossed in a sweet powdery coating. Each 4.5-ounce bag has a suggested retail price of $2.19. The snack mix aims to

Made with real fruit to retain all of the fiber and nutrients nature intended, Jolly Llama Real Whole Fruit Sorbet Squeezups are a convenient, great-tasting frozen treat. The family-friendly Sorbet Squeezups are all-natural, gluten-free, dairy-free and fat-free, and are sweetened with pure cane sugar and fortified with vitamins A and C, as well as fiber.

Vitamix has introduced The Quiet One, a powerful, premium blender that offers sound reduction and improved speed of service. According to independent third party testing by OnSpeX, the blender operates at 18 decibels below its closest competitor when blending a milkshake. An innovative door seal design, coupled with patent-pending floating technology significantly reduces vibration transmission

Sunkist Citrus Burst is a line of citrus mints that combines all-natural fruit flavors with a low-calorie, sugar-free formulation. Key selling features include high profile Sunkist branding; a natural, sugar-free option for health-conscious consumers with no aspartame or aftertaste; a pocket-friendly custom design with attractive graphics. The product is priced for a strong unit profit

“Thin Threads—Real Stories of Life Changing Moments” is a unique book series published and distributed by Kiwi Publishing. Thin Threads Special Editions are now available with a customized point-of-purchase (P-O-P) display. The P-O-P has a small footprint (11-inches by 11-inches) and can fit well close to the coffee station, a counter or a shelf. The

Best Practices for Reducing Operating Costs There is a lengthy list of general maintenance items retailers should have to maximize cooler efficiency. Jerry Lawson, national manager for Energy Star Small Business and Congregations Network, a division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, recommended the following no-cost tips that are designed to help reduce

Just 24 months ago, anyone who wanted a frontline, hourly worker’s job only needed a pulse to get hired. Now, we are faced with staggering unemployment, massive underemployment and tremendous job dissatisfaction. A new report releases from The Conference Board found that just 45% of workers in the U.S. were satisfied with their jobs, the

Convenience store retailers are already dealing with tobacco taxes, PCI deadlines and encroaching competition. Now, if officials in Mesa, Ariz. get their way, operators within the city limits will be forced to invest in security measures aimed at reducing incidents of theft. The proposed mandate, aimed at convenience stores measuring less than 7,500 square feet,

C-store executives charged with marketing to the Hispanic community may be chagrined to find that there is, when all is said and done, no Hispanic community. Instead, there are many Hispanic communities. According to Chicago-based Doyle Research Associates Inc., “Hispanics possess many cultural similarities like common language, Spaniard ancestry and common religion. On the other

With healthcare capturing so many headlines these days, the health and beauty category (HBC) has taken on added importance in the c-store set. Fueling much of the growth: smaller package sizes that save shoppers money and stimulate impulse sales. Medford, Ore.-based Minute Market has jumpstarted its HBC sales by mixing in smaller-sized packaging, according to

McDonald’s has it. Dunkin’ Donuts has it. And if your c-store doesn’t have it, you’re likely losing customers to the QSR down the street. In 2010, featuring a value meal with your foodservice offering is essential to driving new customers through your doors and securing them as regular visitors. C-stores with foodservice programs are facing

Sushi in the c-store cooler? Burritos in the food warmer? Mediterranean sandwiches on the menu? Exotic foods are here to stay and becoming more mainstream, spicing up the foodservice section and appealing to a wide audience. With the growth of the Internet consumers today are exposed to new foods they may not be used to

Thirteen years after the energy drink market emerged in the U.S. with the introduction of Red Bull, the category remains popular with consumers, who are willing to pay higher prices in a difficult economy for an extra jolt. But while Mintel reported in July 2009 that the energy drink market had climbed to an estimated

When the American Public Health Association highlighted a December 2009 study on candy, snack and sweetened beverage availability in non-food retailers, it was worried about obesity. Convenience store retailers are only worried about thin margins. The Tulane University researchers found snack food in 41% of all stores whose primary merchandise was not food. Candy was

At a Glance: The University of Northern Colorado Located in Greeley, Colo., the University of Northern Colorado was founded in 1889. The university features students from 38 states and five countries. Other highlights include: • College nickname: The Bears. • A 2009 enrollment of 9,973 undergraduate and 2,175 graduate students. • Student population: 60% female,

As the director of real estate for High’s of Baltimore and a member of the Darnell family, which owns the Hanover, Md., chain of 69 stores in Maryland and Delaware, Briana Darnell knows first hand the importance of being a strong leader and how it can impact a company’s success. In her current role, she

Throughout my 15 years of covering the convenience store industry, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing people, develop lifelong friendships and watch in awe as otherwise ordinary people learned to work together to produce extraordinary results. Throughout that time I’ve also seen countless people come and go. For some, the industry was a

Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J are planning to divest about 30 locations (10-15 of which are Pilot locations) to Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, for an estimated $3 million to $5 million per location, The Trucker reported. The move is an attempt by Pilot and Flying J to alleviate concerns the Federal Trade

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